[MCR] Kokanee Glacier Park - Silver Spray

Spent July 9-11 doing day trips out of the Silver Spray Cabin.  Snowline was sitting at about 2350m (just below the elevation of the hut).  Above this elevation, the heavy rains of July 6 & 7 had moistened the snowpack making for post holing in shallow areas but reasonable step kicking otherwise.   Gaiters were a must.  No overnight recovery on the 11^th despite clear skies all night (warm temps).  Of note was an old size 2.5 avalanche that ran 300m down to ice on a north aspect of Glacier View Peak (see photo).  The Silver Spray – Woodbury traverse has isolated snow sections that make for easier travel when soft but could be mostly skirted if frozen hard.  Summit ridges on Mt. McQuarrie, Sunrise Mountain and Evening Star Peak were all dry.

For those planning a trip into the Silver Spray Cabin, note that the coordinates are off in both Jim Scott's Backcountry Huts book and the ACC website.   The correct grid reference is 934187 NAD27.

Cheers,

Shaun King
Mountain Sense Guiding & Instruction
www.mountainsense.ca